Sat, 11 Jun 2011 - India vs West Indies, India Tour of West Indies 2011, 3rd ODI - Bulletin

Rohit steers India to series win

It was a match of late order fightback. Both the teams witnessed a middle order collapse to show fightbacks through later half of their batting resources. It was India, though, that prevailed over the proceedings to beat West Indies by three wickets and take an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the series.

Rohit Sharma played his second match winning innings of the series to revive India after his side was on backfoot with six of its wickets back in the hut with 134 runs still needed. The stylish left hander remained not out on 86 anchoring two crucial partnerships that threw any chances of a West Indies win out of window.

What was impressive about Rohit was kind of composure he displayed during his 91-ball stay at the crease. Not only he kept hitting odd boundaries, he made sure Harbhajan and Praveen were guided effectively. Rohit got big shots away, every now and then, when required run rate was shaping to shoot up. His graceful lofted inside-out strokes and pull shots on the front-foot were highlights of his classy knock.

Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar played their part in company of Rohit to take India out of mire and secure a series win. Through the seventh wicket stand of 88, Rohit and Harbhajan involved themselves in fightback and brought the chase on track. Curbing his natural instincts, Bhajji looked for singles and exploded in the last stages of his innings hitting Andre Russell for four and a six before perishing to a same bowler.

When Praveen walked to the crease, India still needed 46 runs and the home team would harbored some hopes of a much needed win. Praveen had other ideas making Rohit’s job easier by slamming two sixes and a four in his 15-ball breezy 25.

Indian were rocked back early in the chase thanks to Sammy’s double strike off consecutive deliveries. Shekhar Dhawan spooned a lazy drive to covers and Virat Kohli received a rough LBW decision to depart for nought. Parthiv Patel, though, kept scoreboard ticking over hitting some creamy off-side fours but sold S Badrinath a dummy when latter was sent back from the middle of the pitch. Badrinath found himself short of ground and Patel followed him after three overs for 46 off 56 and wheels started to come off Indian run chase.

Skipper Suresh Raina had a mental fade against Kieran Pollard when he played a wily slog and Yusuf Pathan was consumed to a stunning catch from Lendl Simmons at short mid-wicket. The visitors were reeling at 92 for 6 but Rohit’s calm and class ensured series was won in Antigua only. Indian victory would mean Sammy’s men have lot to ponder about.

Earlier, Andre Russell’s undefeated 92, best score for a number nine in ODI’s, helped West Indies to overcome yet another batting collapse that saw them lose six wickets for 31. Courtesy the middle order collapse the home team was reeling at 96 for 7 in the 30th over and it looked West Indies batting challenge was over. Russell whose knock that came off just 64 played a major role in back to back crucial stands to take his side well past 220.

Playing in his only sixth ODI, Russell demonstrated everything in his brutal innings that was punctuated with eight fours and five maximums. It was laced talent, patience, muscle and, more importantly, awareness to the situation-an uncommon feature in current crop of Caribbean cricketers. He found willing partners in wicketkeeper Caulton Baugh and Kemar Roach, both of whom, played perfect supporting acts to tall all-rounder’s blitz.

Put into bat, West Indies had disastrous start to their innings losing Kirk Edwards for nought edging behind to an outgoing delivery from Munaf Patel. Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan staged a recovery taking score to 65 in 15th over with both of them hitting some crisp strokes. Simmons’s standout shot was a lofted drive into stands and Sarwan, who looked at his fluent best, greeted leg spinner Amit Mishra to a straight six.

An unfortunate incident in which Sarwan dropped his bat that led his failure to complete the quick run triggered the batting collapse. Mishra, whose variations has been very difficult for inexperienced West Indies batsmen to pick, proved to be main architect of home team’s recession. He bamboozled Marlon Samuels with a conventional leg break to have him stumped, bowled debutant D Hyatt with a googly and ended Simmons’ 68-ball 45 when right handed edged to Virat Kohli in the first slip. Mishra ended with the figures of 3 for 28 in his 10 that indicated opponents’ woes against quality spin.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh made things worse for West Indies removing Kieran Pollard off a doosra and Patel completed the collapse by having Sammy caught behind. There wasn’t much from Indian bowlers with Russell stealing the show.

Baugh was more concentrated on occupying the crease and rotating strike while Russell showed signs of aggression every now and then. The West Indian wicketkeeper’s 73-ball boundary-less stay for 36 played a perfect foil for Fireworks at the other end. Yusuf Pathan was dumped to mid-wicket boundary for two consecutive sixes in the 40th over and a thumping cover drive off Patel in the third over of batting powerplay made Indian bowlers to err in line and length.

Baugh succumbed to Patel slower one but it didn’t stop Russell from going for big shots. Raina bowling 49th over had to bear the brunt of Russell’s fireworks with penultimate over following a sequence-4, 6,6,2,0 and 4. He ended the innings with a six as 51 runs were looted off last 26 balls. Harbhajan bowled ten economical overs while Munaf Patel gave away 60 runs claiming three wickets.